Decision details

Cabinet considered a report on the Outline Budget for 2019/20 to 2022/23 which outlined the current expected budget gaps for 2019/20 and the following three years.

The Provisional Local Government Funding settlement had been delayed until after the ‘meaningful vote’ in Parliament on the Brexit deal which had been due to take place on 11 December 2018 but had now been postponed.  The specifics of the funding settlement would be communicated as soon as they were known and this was now expected to be before Christmas.

Officers were working up proposals to close the budget gaps as set out at paragraph 1.5 of the report, which currently stood at £1.5m, £4.8m, £6m and £4.1 respectively, and would bring these to Cabinet in the New Year.

Resolved that:

1. The net budgeted expenditure (before investment and use of reserves) for 2019-20 be set at a maximum level of £22.2m;

2. Cabinet support the overall strategy set out in the report for addressing efficiencies and achieving medium term financial sustainability; and

3. the financial health indicators set out in paragraph 3.23 be agreed.